The Nigerian female lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has escalated her sexual harassment case against Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
According to the Senator, her experience at the Upper Chamber highlighted the gender-based affliction bedevilling Nigerian women in a male-dominated political structure and society.
She presented her case to the IPU meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, US, on Tuesday, March 11.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her.
The allegation was preceded by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s outburst against Akpabio over the seating arrangement at the Senate.
On charges of violating the Senate rules, she was suspended on March 6 for six months.
Speaking at the IPU meeting, a tearful Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was seeking justice and intervention from international democratic institutions over what she terms an “unlawful suspension” from the Nigerian Senate.
Her suspension followed a heated confrontation with Akpabio over a new Senate seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her. Akpabio refused to recognise her during plenary because she was not speaking from the newly assigned seat.
Tensions escalated when Natasha accused Akpabio on Arise TV of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
She later submitted a petition detailing claims of sexual harassment by the Senate President.
The Senate rejected the petition and refused to hear it.
